Automotive vehicle supporting means for cameras

ABSTRACT

A bracket for mounting camera means in an adjusted position intermediate the dashboard of an automotive vehicle and the back of the front seat thereof.

Shelton et :1

Inventors: w -4 G. Shelton, 10421 Thorpe Ave., Overland, Mo. 63114;Robert L. l v 435 Ryan Dr., Florissant, Mo. 6303]; Homer W. Shelton,9970 Page Blvd, Overland, Mo. 63114 Filed: July 29, 1971 Appl. No.:167,233

11.5. C1. 224/4245 B, 248/205 R, 95/86 Int. Cl. B60r 11/04 Field ofSearch 224/4244, 42.45 B,

224/4243, 29 R, 29 D, 42.42 R, 42.42 B; 95/86; 108/46, 44; 248/205 R;297/188, 191

[ Aug. 14, 1973 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,804,2788/1957 Jewett 95/86 X 2,825,611 3/1958 Aynesworth 224/4244 X 2,603,1347/1952 Burnam 95/86 3,477.586 11/1969 Haluska 297/188 X PrimaryExaminer-Gerald M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner-Kenneth NolandAttomey-Kimmel, Crowell & Weaver [57] ABSTRACT A bracket for mountingcamera means in an adjusted position intermediate the dashboard of anautomotive vehicle and the back of the front seat thereof.

11 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures Patented Aug. 14, 1973 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lNlEN 'TORS FOREST 6. SHEL TON ROBERT L. WOOD/RUFF HOMER W SHELTONATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 14, 1973 3,752,375

2 Sheets-Sheet z FOREST 6. SHELTON ROBERT L. WOODRUFF HOMER VK SHELTONKW MZ MW A T TOR/VE Y5 1 AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE SUPPORTING MEANS FOR CAMERASBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention It is believedthat the subject matter of this invention would be properly classifiableby the United States Patent Office in Class 95, entitledPhlGlToGRAPl-lY," and its Subclass 86, entitled CAMERA SUPPORTS.

2. Description of the Prior Art Automobile camera supporting means,stands or brackets are not, per se, new in the art. This is evidenced bythe disclosures of the [1.8. Pat. to Jewell and McDonald, Nos. 2,804,278and 2,907,253, respectively. However, it is submitted that thesimplicity of the disclosure of the instant invention serves topatentably distinguish over the more complicated structures of the namedpatentees, and to so radically depart from their teachings as toconstitute invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Basically, the instant invention relates to anormally horizontal support member for camera means and wherein thesupport member extends between the back rest of the front seat of anautomotive vehicle and its dashboard in order to hold the lens system ofthe camera in an elevated position to obtain photographic images throughthe front windshield. The apparatus involved herein will become moremanifest from a consideration of the following specification when readin the light of the annexed drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspectiveview of the front compartment of a conventional automotive vehicle, thisFigure illustrating a camera supporting means constructed according toone embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the means shown in FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the normallyhorizontal camera support member and its pivotal adjustment means forconnection with the back rest of the front seat of the automotivevehicle;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of the means shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view, similar to FIG. 1, this Figureillustrating a modified form of the camera supporting means constructedin accordance with this invention;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the supporting meansshown in FIG. 5, this view being partly broken away to illustratecertain mechanical constructions; and

FIG. 7 is a rear elevational view of the supporting means shown in FIG.6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the first of the preferredembodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, inclusive, reference numeral 10generally designates the front compartment of a conventional automotivevehicle having the usual front dashboard 12 which includes a lateral topend 14 above which upwardly projects a conventional windshield 16. At 18is designated one of the two laterally opposed doors, each of which isprovided with the customary windowpane 20.

Reference numeral 22 indicates the seat cushion of the usual front seat24,, the seat 24 including an upright back rest 26 having an upper end28. The upper end 28 is formed with a pair of downwardly openingchannels 30 which normally receive the tongues (not shown) of a pair ofhead rests (also not shown).

All of the above description relates to conventional automobileconstruction and, per se, does not constitute the gist of the instantinvention.

The specific embodiments of the instant invention are set forthimmediately below.

In the first embodiment of this invention a camera bracket or supportmeans is denoted, in general, by reference numeral 32.

The support means 32 includes an elongated downwardly openingsubstantially U-shaped channel member 34 having a central bight 36 inwhich is formed a plurality of longitudinally spaced transverselyextending tapped openings 38. Depending downwardly from the opposedlongitudinally extending marginal edges of the bight 36, in laterallyspaced and substantially parallel relationship, are side flanges 40, 42.

As is seen in FIG. 1, the flanges 40, 42 at the leading .end of thechannel member 34 are superimposed on the dashboard top end 14 whiletheir respective trailing ends extend over the upper end 28 of the backrest 26. The trailing ends of the flanges 40, 42 are formed withconfronting aligned transversely extending openings 44, 46,respectively, to serve a function to be described.

At 48 is indicated an elongated substantially flat rectangular platehaving a substantially cylindrical bead 50 at its upper end. From oneside of the bead 50 laterally projects a pin 52, and at its other side,and aligned with the pin 52, is a hollow cylindrical pocket 54. The pin52 is adapted to be pivotally received within the opening 46 and thepocket 54 is aligned with the opening 44.

Inserted through the opening 44 for reception in the pocket 54 is a selftapping screw 56. The pin 54 and the screw 56 hold the channel member 32and the plate 48 in connected assembly and in such a manner that whenthe plate 48 is received in the channel 30 at the righthand side (thepassenger side) of the vehicle, the channel member 32 spans between thetop end 14 of the dashboard l2 and the upper end 28 of the back rest 26.

Reference numeral 58 denotes a conventional camera which, in thedrawings, is illustrated as having a main body portion 60 and adownwardly depending U- shaped handle means 62. The handle means 62includes a bight 64 adapted for juxtaposition over the bight 36. Thecamera 58 is adjusted longitudinally of the bight 36 until a desiredposition is achieved, and thereafter a screw 66 having an enlargedfingerengageable knurled head is threaded through one of the openings38, the screw passing through the annular washer 70 and being threadedlyreceived in a tapped opening 72 formed in the lower side of the handlebight 64. A manually operable control cable 74 extends from the camera58 into the proximity of the driver's or the left-hand seat position ofthe front seat.

It will be here recognized that by virtue of the screw connecting means,the lens system 75 and the camera 58 may be turned to any desired angleabout the upright axis of the screw 66 and may be releasably secured insuch position thereby.

In FIGS. 5 to 7, inclusive, there is illustrated the details of a secondembodiment of this invention. Since certain components of the secondembodiment of this invention have counterparts in the first embodimentdescribed and illustrated herein, the same reference numerals have beenapplied in each instance, but in the case of the second embodiment, aprime mark has been added thereto in order to provide differentiationmeans.

Thus, and in the second embodiment, the bight 36' of the downwardlyopening channel member 34' is formed with the longitudinally spacedtransverse openings 38 and, as before, the bight 36 carries thelaterally spaced and confronting depending flanges 4042 at each,respectively, longitudinally extending marginal edge. The leading endsof the edges of the flanges 40', 42' are, as before, supported on thetop end 14' of the front dashboard 12 adjacent the front windshield 16'.The plate 48', in this instance, is elongated and as before terminatesin a bead 50' at its upper end, the latter being inserted between andconnected to the trailing ends of the flanges 40', 42 by the pin 52' andscrew 56.

The plate 48' depends from the support means 32, and superimposedagainst one side thereof adjacent its lower end is the stem 70 of aninverted substantially T- shaped base plate 72 having a cross-head 74provided with a normally horizontal lower end edge 76. The stem 70 isformed with a longitudinally extending slot 78 through which extends theshank 80 of a securing bolt 82 which is threaded into a suitable tappedopening 84 formed in the lower end of the plate 48'. The slot 78 andbolt 82 afford means for adjusting the base plate 72 relative to thelongitudinal axis of the plate 48' and for holding the same in itsadjusted position.

Normally, the plate 48' bears against the forward or front side of theback rest 26 with the edge 76 being superimposed on the cushion 22adjacent its junction with the back rest 26'. The base support 72 will,of course, be adjusted so that the support means 32' is horizontal or ispositioned at a desired angle inclined to a horizontal plane. Thisprovides for a vertical adjusting means for the lens system 75' whichcannot be achieved in the above-described first embodiment of thisinvention.

To prevent the lateral shifting of the support means 32' this secondembodiment of the invention provides a lateral substantially L-shapedbrace 85 having a normally substantially horizontal elongated flatrectangular leg portion 86 formed with a plurality of longitudinallyspaced transversely extending openings 88 adapted for selectivealignment, respectively, with one of the tapped openings 38'.

As is seen in FIG. 5, one end of the leg portion 86 spans over the upperend of the sill 90 of the side door 18' and terminates in a downwardlyprojecting foot section 92 (see FIGS. 5 and 6) which is interposedbetween the sill 90 and its associated windowpane The camera 58' isconnected by its handle means 62' on the support means 32' in the samemanner as heretofore described, that is, by the screw 66', washer 70',and a selected one of the tapped openings 38'. Thus, and in this secondembodiment of the invention, there is provided means for adjustablysupporting a camera 6 From the foregoing it can be seen that the backsof the channel members 34 and 34' are respectively supported on backsupports for swinging movement about the horizontal axes of the pins 52and 52', these axes 5 being at substantially right angles to thelongitudinal forward-rearward axis of the channel members. The fronts ofthe channel members 34 and 34' are respectively supported on frontsupports solely by gravity on the tops 14 and 14 of the dashboards. Thecameras 58 10 and 58' are respectively connected to the channel members34 and 34' between the back and front supports so that their focal axesrespectively extend toward the Windshields for proper viewing throughthe windshields. The channel members 34 and 34' (and the 15 cameras 58and 58') may swing vertically about pins 52 and 52'.

Having described and illustrated two embodiments of this invention indetail, it will be understood that the same are offered merely by way ofexample, and that the scope of this invention is to be limited only byway of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An automotive vehicle supporting means for cameras wherein saidvehicle includes a dashboard having a lateral top end disposedrearwardly of and in juxtaposition to the lower end of a normallyupright windshield for said vehicle, and seat means in said vehiclespaced rearwardly of said dashboard, said supporting means comprising:

30 an elongated member having a pair of opposed leading and trailingends;

said leading end being supported solely by gravity on the top end ofsaid dashboard to thereby constitute a front support for said leadingend;

35 a back support for connection on said seat means that includes pivotmeans on said trailing end, said pivot means having a prone axis thatextends substantially at right angles to the direction of elongation ofsaid member, said direction of elongation extending in aforward-rearward direction between said front support and said backsupport; and

means for connecting said camera on a mid-portion of said member betweensaid back support and said front support so that the camera focal axisis directed toward the windshield.

2. Camera supporting as defined in claim 1 and:

means for selectively adjusting and securing said camera in thedirection of the elongation of said member.

3. Camera supporting means as defined in claim 2 wherein said seat meansincludes a normally upright back rest and:

said back support includes means for connecting said member on said backrest. v 4. Camera supporting means as defined in claim 3 wherein:

said back rest has an upper end provided with a downwardly openingchannel;

said back support includes a tongue having an end connected on thetrailing end of said member by said pivot means; and

an opposed end detachably received within said channel.

5. Camera supporting means as defined in claim 4 wherein said membercomprises:

an elongated downwardly opening substantially U- shaped channel memberhaving a bight and a depending flange at each longitudinally extendingmarginal edge thereof;

said flanges being disposed in laterally spaced, confronting andsubstantially parallel relationship relative to one another andextending to the leading and trailing ends of said bight;

the leading ends of said flanges being engaged over said top end of saiddashboard to constitute said front support and the trailing ends thereofbeing supported on the upper end of said back rest adjacent saidchannel; and

wherein said pivot means comprises means for pivotally connecting saidconnected end of said tongue on said flanges.

6. Camera supporting means as defined in claim 2 wherein:

said member comprises a downwardly opening U- shaped channel memberhaving an elongated bight and a depending flange at each longitudinallyextending marginal edge thereof, said seat means includes a seat cushionand a back rest;

said flanges being disposed in laterally spaced, confronting andsubstantially parallel relationship to one another and extending to theleading and trailing ends of said bight;

the leading ends of said flanges being engaged over said top end of saiddashboard to constitute said front support and the trailing end of saidflanges terminating adjacent said back rest; and

means connected with said pivot means and engaging said cushion and backrest to hold said trailing end in an elevated position. 7. Camerasupporting means as defined in claim 6 wherein:

said engaging means comprises an elongated tongue having an endpivotally connected between said flanges adjacent the trailing endsthereof to constitute said pivot means; and an opposed end engaging saidcushion and back rest. 8. Camera supporting means as defined in claim 7wherein:

said opposed end includes an inverted T-shaped member having a crossheadengageable with said cushion. 9. Camera supporting means as defined inclaim 8 wherein:

said T-shaped member includes a stem; and means extending through saidstem for adjustably securing said T-shaped member on said opposed end ofsaid tongue. 10. Camera supporting means as defined in claim 9 wherein:

said automotive vehicle includes a door having a windowsill, said doorbeing positioned laterally to one side of said seat means, and wherein:brace means extends between and is connected on said member and saidsill. 11. Camera supporting means as defined in claim 10 and:

means releasably connecting said brace means in preselected positions onsaid member and sill.

w s a v m

1. An automotive vehicle supporting means for cameras wherein saidvehicle includes a dashboard having A lateral top end disposedrearwardly of and in juxtaposition to the lower end of a normallyupright windshield for said vehicle, and seat means in said vehiclespaced rearwardly of said dashboard, said supporting means comprising:an elongated member having a pair of opposed leading and trailing ends;said leading end being supported solely by gravity on the top end ofsaid dashboard to thereby constitute a front support for said leadingend; a back support for connection on said seat means that includespivot means on said trailing end, said pivot means having a prone axisthat extends substantially at right angles to the direction ofelongation of said member, said direction of elongation extending in aforward-rearward direction between said front support and said backsupport; and means for connecting said camera on a mid-portion of saidmember between said back support and said front support so that thecamera focal axis is directed toward the windshield.
 2. Camerasupporting as defined in claim 1 and: means for selectively adjustingand securing said camera in the direction of the elongation of saidmember.
 3. Camera supporting means as defined in claim 2 wherein saidseat means includes a normally upright back rest and: said back supportincludes means for connecting said member on said back rest.
 4. Camerasupporting means as defined in claim 3 wherein: said back rest has anupper end provided with a downwardly opening channel; said back supportincludes a tongue having an end connected on the trailing end of saidmember by said pivot means; and an opposed end detachably receivedwithin said channel.
 5. Camera supporting means as defined in claim 4wherein said member comprises: an elongated downwardly openingsubstantially U-shaped channel member having a bight and a dependingflange at each longitudinally extending marginal edge thereof; saidflanges being disposed in laterally spaced, confronting andsubstantially parallel relationship relative to one another andextending to the leading and trailing ends of said bight; the leadingends of said flanges being engaged over said top end of said dashboardto constitute said front support and the trailing ends thereof beingsupported on the upper end of said back rest adjacent said channel; andwherein said pivot means comprises means for pivotally connecting saidconnected end of said tongue on said flanges.
 6. Camera supporting meansas defined in claim 2 wherein: said member comprises a downwardlyopening U-shaped channel member having an elongated bight and adepending flange at each longitudinally extending marginal edge thereof,said seat means includes a seat cushion and a back rest; said flangesbeing disposed in laterally spaced, confronting and substantiallyparallel relationship to one another and extending to the leading andtrailing ends of said bight; the leading ends of said flanges beingengaged over said top end of said dashboard to constitute said frontsupport and the trailing end of said flanges terminating adjacent saidback rest; and means connected with said pivot means and engaging saidcushion and back rest to hold said trailing end in an elevated position.7. Camera supporting means as defined in claim 6 wherein: said engagingmeans comprises an elongated tongue having an end pivotally connectedbetween said flanges adjacent the trailing ends thereof to constitutesaid pivot means; and an opposed end engaging said cushion and backrest.
 8. Camera supporting means as defined in claim 7 wherein: saidopposed end includes an inverted T-shaped member having a crossheadengageable with said cushion.
 9. Camera supporting means as defined inclaim 8 wherein: said T-shaped member includes a stem; and meansextending through said stem for adjustably securing said T-shaped memberon said opposed end of said tongue.
 10. Camera supporting means asdefined in claim 9 wheRein: said automotive vehicle includes a doorhaving a windowsill, said door being positioned laterally to one side ofsaid seat means, and wherein: brace means extends between and isconnected on said member and said sill.
 11. Camera supporting means asdefined in claim 10 and: means releasably connecting said brace means inpre-selected positions on said member and sill.